Echinacea plant named ‘Red Baron’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Red Baron’, characterized by its upright and columnar plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large inflorescences with grey purple-colored ray florets, dark grey purple-colored disc florets and red-colored receptacle spines; ray florets arranged in a single whorl at the base of the receptacle and randomly towards the receptacle apex; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea purpurea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RED BARON’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea purpurea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Red Baron’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely flowering Echinacea plants with unique inflorescence forms and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in 2001 in Boskoop, The Netherlands of two unnamed proprietary selections of Echinacea purpurea, not patented. The new Echinacea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since 2003 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Red Baron’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Red Baron’ as a new and distinct Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and columnar plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Large inflorescences with grey purple-colored ray florets,         dark grey purple-colored disc florets and red-colored receptacle         spines; ray florets arranged in a single whorl at the base of         the receptacle and randomly towards the receptacle apex.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Echinacea differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are shorter than plants of the         parent selections.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea are more freely flowering than         plants of the parent selections.     -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea and the parent selections differ         in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the parent         selections are pink in color.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinacea purpurea ‘Doppelganger’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Boskoop, The Netherlands, plants of the new Echinacea differed primarily from plants of ‘Doppelganger’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea were shorter than plants of         ‘Doppelganger’.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Doppelganger’.     -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea had larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Doppelganger’.     -   4. Plants of the new Echinacea and ‘Doppelganger’ differed in         ray floret color as ray florets of plants of ‘Doppelganger’ were         pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Echinacea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Red Baron’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Red Baron’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of the upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘Red Baron’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in an outdoor nursery in Hillegom, The Netherlands and under cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 16° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea ‘Red Baron’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Echinacea             purpurea, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Echinacea             purpurea, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two             months at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; black in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             columnar plant habit, narrow inverted triangle; freely basal             branching habit with about ten branches developing per             plant; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 91 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 46 cm.         -   Branches.—Length: About 56.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 3.9 cm. Aspect: Erect to about 5°             from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent,             strigose; rough. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Narrowly cuneate.         -   Margin.—Sparsely dentate; undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, strigose;             rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C and 147B; venation, close to 145A to 145B.         -   Petioles, basal leaves.—Length: About 7.1 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,             strigose. Color, upper surface: Close to 1437C strongly             tinged with close to 187B. Color, lower surface: Close to             144B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Rotate inflorescence form with ray and disc             florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences positioned             upright above the foliar plane on upright strong peduncles.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about seven             inflorescences per branch; about 70 inflorescences             developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, acidic-sweet, pleasant.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about three months             after planting and in the garden, plants flower continuously             from early July to the middle of September in The             Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences             not persistent.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 11.4 cm. Depth (height):             About 7.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 3.8 cm. Receptacle             height: About 2.1 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Receptacle color: Close to 155A.         -   Ray florets, basal.—Quantity and arrangement: About 30 in a             single whorl at the base of the receptacle. Length: About             4.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate.             Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly longitudinally ridged. Aspect: Horizontal to             slightly drooping, about 10° from horizontal. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 64B. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 186B; towards the apex, tinged with close             to 146D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 185C; color             does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 59B to 59C.         -   Ray florets, apical.—Quantity and arrangement: About 20             randomly arranged towards the apex of the receptacle.             Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             longitudinally ridged. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 64B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 186B;             towards the apex, tinged with close to 146D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 185C; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 59B to             59C.         -   Disc florets.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Tubular, apices acute. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: More than 500. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to N186C. Color, mature, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to N186C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret. Shape:             Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Apex: Close to 42B. Mid-section: Close to             144B. Base: Close to 157D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 75             arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent; margins,             moderately pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 22.7 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 18.9 cm. Length, seventh peduncle:             About 19.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to 30° from stem axis. Texture: Pubescent,             strigose. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc             florets): Quantity per floret: About four. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 147B. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to             147B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 8A.             Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:             Decurrent. Stigma color: Close to N186C. Style length: About             5 mm. Style color: Close to N186C. Ovary color: Close to             157D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Echinacea. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new     Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about     35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Red Baron’ as illustrated and described. 